Chuck-type pencil



Patented Jan. 28,1930

PATENT OFFICE FRANCIS E. MEYER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA CHUCK-TYPE PENCIL Application filed November 9, 1927. Serial 110,282,104.

My invention relates to pencils, and it has for one object the provision of a encil that shall be particularly adaptable or use by draftsmen, architects, engineers and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pencil, wherein the finger-gripping portion is close to the work.

A further object of my invention is to provide a pencil, wherein the finger-gripping portion is provided with intersecting, longitudinal and transverse grooves, whereby the pencil may be prevented from turning between the fingers, particularly when a chisel point is being used.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a pencil with a pair of extended clamping jaws, so that the lead may be gripped over an extended surface rather than at one point, since in the latter case the lead is frequently broken by being pinched .by the clamping means.

A still further object of my'invention is to provide clamping jaws of steel preferably hardened, so that the shape of the jaws may remain unchanged throughout the normal life of the pencil. Heretofore, such jaws have been made of relatively soft material, and, as a result, are frequently twisted out of shape while the remainder of the pencil is still in good condition.

A still further object of my invention is to provide in connection with the steel clamping jaws, a clamping sleeve which is also of hardened steel, so that the sleeve may be unafi'ected by the usual sharpening of the lead.

A still further object of my invention is to provide removable means, at the finger end of the pencil, afli'ording an indication as to the character of the lead in use. More specifical ly, my invention contemplates the positioning of reference characters on the removable clamping sleeve for the pencil jaws, there peigg one sleeve for each desired grade of Other objects and applications of my invention, as well as details of construction and operation, whereby my invention may be practiced, will be apparent more fully hereinafter, when taken in connection with the ac-- Q companying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view of the gripping end of the pencil.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the pencil of Fig. 1, showing a draftsman in the act of removing or replacing the removable clamp ing sleeve for the steel jaws.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the manner in which the pencil is held. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail side elevational view of one portion of the ferrule at the gripping end of the pencil,-illustrating the character of the grooves.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view, of the ferrule of Fig. 5 taken on the line 66 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing analternative embodiment of my invention. 7

As noted above, my invent-ion contemplates, among other things, the rovision of a pencil which is characterized by the fact that it maintains its original length, weight and feel during the normal life of the pencil; that it permits the lead to be gripped tightly with out danger of breaking the same; that it may be firmly held, even when a chisel point is 30 used, without danger of turning; and that it is provided with a clamping sleeve bearing an inscription indicative of the character of the lead in use. These and other desired results hereinafter tobe mentioned are accomplished as shown in 'the drawing, wherein a main tubular body portion 1 of the pencil is provided with an axial bore for the reception of a strip of lead. The main body portion 1 may be made of wood, bakelite, or other composition. An upper end of the body portion 1 is provided with a ferrule 2, one end 3 of which is adapted to receive removably an eraser 4. M

I In accordance with my invention, a lower end 5,of the main body portion 1 is provided with an elongated portion 6 of reduced diameteffor the reception of a metallic ferrule 7 constituting the main finger-gripplng porr tion of the pencil. The length of the ferrule L3 or sleeve 7 is such that the thumb and first finger may grip the same comfortably when the lead is resting on the work, as shown in Fi .4. I.

Tn order to prevent the gripping fingers from sliding downwardly on the ferrule 7, I provide a plurality of circular grooves 8, each groove comprising an outwardly extending wall portion 9, a base portion 11, and an inclined Wall portion 12 which terminates in an outer circular portion 13. It isnoted that the circular portions 13 in connection with the wall portions 9 of the grooves 8 form sharp corners 14 which extend around the pencil. These corners or edges afford the draftsman the necessary rough gripping surface, whereby his fingers may be prevented from slipping downwardly on the pencil.

Heretofore, draftsmen have had considerable difliculty with the turning of the pen cil in their hand when a chisel point is being used. Such turning is prevented, in lny invention, by the provision of a plurality of longitudinal slots 15 on the outer surface of the ferrule 7, as illustrated in Fig. 7. Six of the rooves or slots 15 may be employed whic are equally spaced around the circumference of the ferrule 7. As shown in Fig.-

3, the longitudinal grooves 15 also afford the operator a desired rough gripping surface in the event that the lead of the pencil is to be removed and replaced, all as will presently appear in greater detail.

Referring to Fig. 2, a lower inner surface portion 16 of the bore is threaded for the reception of correspondingly threaded portion 17 of a tubular member 18, a bore 19 of which constitutes a continuation of the bore through which the lead of the pencil may extend. The member 18 is provided with an enlarged intermediate portion 21 forming a shoulder 22 which may be seated against an end portion 23 of the pencil portion 6.

The member 18 also comprises a second externally threaded portion 24, and a slotted portion 25 forming clamping jaws 26 and 27. Inner surface portions 28 and 29 of the jaws 26 and 27, respectively. are substantially flat, so that a long bearing or gripping surface may be afforded. An advantage of thus gripping the lead over elongated bearing surfaces is that the danger of breaking the lead is substantially eliminated. In the ferrules of the prior art, on the other hand, the practice has been to use point gripping surfaces, so that when the jaws are tightened, the lead is broken. The jaws 26 and 27 also are made preferably of hardened steel, whereby the shape of the jaws may be maintained for the normal life of the pencil. As set forth above, the practice heretofore, has been to use relatively soft material in the jaws, with the result that the jaws are twisted out of shape in a relatively short time.

The jaws 26 and 27 may be caused to engage the lead, with substantially even lateral'pressure throughout the length thereof, by means of a removable sleeve 31 having a tapered inner surface portion 32 which co-acts with a correspondingly tapered outer surface portion 33 of the jaws 26 and 27. The tapered portion 32 of the sleeve 31 extends at one end into a cylindrical portion 34 through which the point of the lead may pass. An upper end of the tapered portion 32 extends into a portion 35 which may be threaded for co-action with the threaded portion 24 of the member 18. The sleeve 31 may be thus moved axially of the member 18 merely by turning the same, and the jaws 26 and 27 correspondingly opened or closed, depending upon the direction in which the sleeve 31 is turned.

An upper end 36 of the sleeve 31 is of such diameter that a lower end portion 37 of the ferrule 7 may overlap the same, as shown particularly in Fig. 2. The end portion 37 of the ferrule 7 may be provided with a taper which is in alignment with a correspondingly tapered sleeve portion 38 positioned substantially mid-way between the ends of the sleeve 31. The tapered portion 38 may be provided with a raised portion 39 comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves 41. The grooves 41 afford a desired rough surface when the sleeve 31 is to be tightened or loosened for the purpose of securing or removing the lead. Fig. 3 illustrates a draftsman in the act of performing this operation.

The taper portion 38 extends into an end portion 42 having a slightly greater taper, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The length of that portion of the sleeve 31 which projects beyond the ferrule end portion 37 is such that the second finger of the draftsman may be comfortably placed under the same when the lead is resting on the work, as shown in Fig. 4. The clamping sleeve 31 is preferably made of hardened steel so as to prevent the same from becoming worn during the usual sharpening operation.

A still further feature of my invention is the provision of means on the gripping end of the pencil that shall afford the draftsmen an indication as to the character or grade of lead in the pencil. This result is accomplished by inscribing the desired characters on the removable steel sleeve 31, and providing a plurality of such sleeves, each of which is provided with markings indicating some one desired grade of lead. For purposes of illustration, the characters 5-H have been inscribed on an outer surface portion 43 of the sleeve 31 between the grooved portion 39 and the beveled tapered end portion 37 of the ferrule 7. It is noted that the 'characters are positioned on the end of the pencil between the exposed portion of the lead and the main gripping portion, as shown 111 Fig. 4.

with the exception just noted as to the ine0 ping element, the bodyportion through a.

. desired grade. The member 31 bearing the inscription 5-H is now replaced by an interchangeable sleeve bearingan inscription corresponding to the grade of the lead just in serted in the penc1l. For example, in Fig. 7, a clamping sleeve is employed wherein the characters indicate that lead of 3-H grade is employed.

Fig. 8 is similar in all respects to the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, and

scription on the sleeve 31, and with the further exce tion that the rubber end of the pencil is ormed to correspond with the gripping end "of the pencil, thereby forming a double-ended pencil. Attention is directed to the fact that lead need not necessarily be mounted in this end of the pencil, should,

of the bore facing the upper end of the main body portion and longitudinally grooved to provide oppositely facing longitudinally-extending shoulders which are substantially radial to the axis of the main body portion, the junctions of the circumferentially and longitudinally-extending shoulders producing relatively sharp corners,the exterior of the actuator tapering from the lower end of the main body portion to the point of exposure' of the scriber gripped in the gripping element and being provided upon its exterior with longitudinally-extending grooves.

' FRANCIS E. MEYER.

for example, a needle point be desired in lieu thereof.

While I have shown only two forms of embodiment of my invention, for the purpose of describing the same and illustrating its principles of construction and operation, it is apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein, without departing from the spirit of my invention and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are indicated in the appended claims or as are demanded by the'prior art.'

I claim: 1

1. A chuck type pencil comprising a main body portion having a scriber-receivmg bore opening through the lower end thereof and a chuck at said end of the main body portion, the body portion through a portion of its length terminating at said lower end being circulnferentially grooved to provide circumvferentially-extending shoulders substantially perpendicular to the axis of the body and facing the upper end of the main body por-- tion and longitudinally grooved tov provide oppositely-facing longitudinally-extending shoulders which are substantially radial to the axis of the main body portion thejunctions of the circumferentially and longitudinall -extending shoulders producing relative y sharp corners.

2. A chuck type pencil comprising a main body portion having a scriber-receivmg bore opening through the lower end thereof and a chuck at said end of the main body portion including an inner scriber gripping element and an outer rotatable actuator for said griprtion of its length terminating at said ower' end being circumferentially grooved toprovi-de circumferentiall extending shoulders substantially perpen icular to the axis 

